Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an appeal for disability allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [33103/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case.

There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order.

While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but s/he will be informed when arrangements have been made.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an application for domiciliary care allowance now under appeal will be expedited and approved in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; the medical grounds on which the application was initially refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33242/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 275 together.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that a revised decision favourable to the person concerned has been made by Department. The person concerned has been contacted regarding this decision.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33145/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case.

There has been a very significant increase in the number of appeals received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2007 when the intake was 14,070 to 2010 when the intake rose to 32,432. This has significantly impacted on the processing time for appeals which require oral hearings and, in order to be fair to all appellants, they are dealt with in strict chronological order.

While every effort is being made to deal with the large numbers awaiting oral hearing as quickly as possible, it is not possible to give a date when the person's oral hearing will be heard, but s/he will be informed when arrangements have been made.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason payment of jobseeker's allowance has been discontinued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the status of their appeal. [33154/11]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason payment of jobseeker's allowance has been discontinued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the status of their appeal. [33157/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 270 together.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 11 October 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 03 November 2011 and the appeal will be assigned, in due course, to an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.